Electric shaver with improved end cover assembly

ABSTRACT

An end cover arrangement for an electric razor including a pair of oppositely disposed, pivotally mounted end caps having two individual springs for each cap, with one spring biasing the cap into an open position and the other acting to maintain it in a closed position, and with an actuator button and yoke arrangement adapted to release the spring holding the cap closed to permit opening the end covers for cutting head cleaning. In the preferred construction, the end cap units are urged to an open or generally horizontal position by a coiled wire spring unit while movement thereof is resisted by engagement between a second or leaf spring unit and a projection extending beneath the pivot axis of each end cap. The actuator button operates a slidable yoke which pushes the leaf spring end portions away from a position of engagement with the cap extension, thereby freeing the cover for opening movement. Once open, the covers may be individually closed and will remain closed until the button is again actuated.

United-States Patent n91 Shortlidge et al.

[ Sept. 25, 1973 ELECTRIC SHAVER WITH IMPROVED END COVER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Donald L. Shortlidge, Lancaster, Pa.;

James Christensen, Dover, Del.; James H. Foard, Jr., Lancaster, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Schick Electric Inc., Lancaster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 172,785

Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Attorney-Fred S. Lockwood et al.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT An end cover arrangement for an electric razor including a pair of oppositely disposed, pivotally mounted end caps having two individual springs for each cap, with one spring biasing the cap into an open position and the other acting to maintain it in a closed position, and with an actuator button and yoke arrangement adapted to release the spring holding the cap closed to permit opening the end covers for cutting head cleaningQ In the preferred construction, the end cap units are urged to an open or generally horizontal position by a coiled wire spring unitwhile movement thereof is resisted by engagement between a second or leaf spring unit and a projection extending beneath the pivot axis of each end cap. The actuator button operates a slidable yoke which pushes the leaf spring end portions away from a position of engagement with the cap extension, thereby freeing the cover for opening movement. Once open, the covers may be individually closed and will remain closed until the button is again actuated.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures mscmea MEMH] SW2 $1975 SHEH 1 BF 2 1 "ELECTRIC SHAVER WITH IMPROVED END COVER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION caps, sometimes referred to as whisk-its, are manually snapped open against the force of a closing or'retumspring. Typically, theactions are of two types, one being an arrangement wherein the cap is urged towards the closed position at all times and must be maintained open by exerting manual pressure until the cleaning operation is completed, while another typical arrangement is one wherein a snap over center action is provided so that the cap will remain either in the fully opened or closed position, depending upon the position in which it is placed.

As in other high production, low cost, small appliances and like units, there is still room for improvement in the design and operational mode of certain parts of electric razors, particularly in areas designed'to increase convenience, to'facilitate manufacturing operations, to increasereliabilityand to reduce cost.

The present-invention istherefore directed to a preferred construction of end caps for an electric razor wherebythe caps remain in the closed position during by the actuation of a single control and which may thereafter be individually closed for use.

Another object is to provide an end cap arrangement for the cutting head portions of an electric razor for simplifying maintenance of the razor.

A further object is to provide a construction of an end cap arrangement whereby opening of the end caps may be made without altering the grip of the user on the razor unit and which therefore decrease the likelihood of dropping or damaging the razor during the cleaning operation.

Still another object is to provide an end cap assembly including a pair of end cap units each having a pair of springs, one biasing its associated cap open and the other providing resistance to cap opening, a yoke engaged on either end thereof with portions of the springs resisting cap opening and adapted to release the springs from a position of engagement with the caps, and an actuator button adapted to move the yoke between a rest positi n and a position hereof for rel sing cover from retention by the second springsv Another object is to provide a dry shaver unit having a shaving head assemblyand which includes a pair of and covers each constructed and arranged so as to refirst spring means engaging a portion of each end cap and urging each end cap toward an open position, second spring means locking each end cap against movement toward the open position, and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move the second spring means retaining each cap in the closed position away from its position of engagement, with the cap to permit simultaneous opening of the end caps.

The manner in which these objects and advantages are accomplished will be better understood when reference is made to the'accompanying detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention set forth by way of example, and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric razor embodying the improved end cover assembly of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the razor of F IG; 1', with portions broken away and showing the open and closed positions of the end cap;

FIG. 3 is an end view, partly in elevation and partly in section, taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing certain elements of the end cover release mechanism;

FIG. 41 is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged top plan view of the release mechanism of the invention, taken along lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken along lines 55 of FIG. 2 and showing the interior of one of the end covers of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the release mechanism of the invention taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Although it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in a number of forms and can be used in different environments, a description thereof will be made with reference to an embodiment wherein an otherwise generally conventional electric shaver unit has a shaving zone formed by a plurality of individual shaving heads, the ends of which are covered in use by the improved end cover assembly of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows an electric shaver generally designated at 10 to include a lower body portion 12 forming the housing for a motor and portions of the drive mechanism, and an upper body portion 14, in which are received a pair of individual shaving heads l6, 18, each covered by a perforated sleeve 20, 22 and each including cutter bars 24, 26 disposed beneath the sleeves 20, 22.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the ends of the shaving heads 16, 1% are closed off in use by a pair of end cap assemblies 2% each mounted by pins 30 for pivotal movement about the center of the openings found in a pair of mounting ears 32 molded into the side of -the upper body portion 14. The front surface of the razor unit includes a control panel 34, which, in this unit, includes an on-off switch 36, a shaving height adjustment control 38 and a button 40 which controls release of the end caps from the closed position in a manner to be described in greater detail herein.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 2 and 5, it will be noted that each end cap 28 includes an inner surface portion 42 having a pair of recesses 44 therein, one portion each of which receives a leg 46 extending outwardly from a coil portion 48 of a spring, the other leg 50 of which is received within a slot 52 formed in the upper portion 14 of the razor 10. Extending downwardly from the end cap 28 is a lower extension 54 having a polygonal cross section and having one side thereof engaged by an end portion 56 of a leaf spring 58, which is also secured in position within the upper body portion 14 of the shaver 10. Extending downwardly from the end cap 28 is a lower extension 54 having a polygonal cross section and having one side thereof engaged by an end portion 56 of a leaf spring 58, which is also secured in position within the upper body portion 14 of the shaver 10.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the release control system includes a yoke member generally designated 60 and having a pair of oppositely extending arms 62, 64, with one arm 64 only being shown for purposes of illustration. The arm 64 includes a flange 66 terminating in an end portion 68 which lies in closely spaced apart relation to an oppositely directed surface of the leaf spring 58, the end portion 56 of which is in contact with the lower extension 54 of the end cap 28.

As indicated by the phantom lines of FIG. 4, it will be noted that movement to the rear of the button 40, which is secured to the center portion of the yoke, will cause the leaf spring 58 to deflect generally about the corner 70 thereof, it being understood that, as shown in FIG. 5 for example, the rearwardly directed flange 72 thereof is locked within the upper portion 14 of the body.

The engagement of the end portion 68 of the yoke flange 66 with the spring 58 is also illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein it may be seen that the pivot point 30 forming a part of the cap 28 is disposed just above the end portion of the spring 56, and that accordingly, the end portion 56 receives considerable force from the extension 54. Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 5, it will be noted that the coils 48 are sized so as to produce a relatively strong force tending to open the caps and thus to increase the included angle between the legs 46, 50 of the spring.

In operation, assuming that the razor unit has been used and cleaning thereof is indicated, pushing the actuating button 40 to the rear or phantom line position of FIG. 4 moves the entire yoke 60 to the rear, with the consequence that the end 68 of the flange 66 moves the tip 56 of the leaf spring 58 to the phantom line position of FIG. 4. This releases confinement of the lower extension and permits it to move arcuately inwardly of the razor body, with the result that the end cap 28 rapidly snaps open in response to the spring forces applied to the interior surface 42 thereof. Upon release of the button 40, which is only required to be pressed momentarily, the leaf spring 58 returns to its original state. However, the end caps having been released, they remain in that position until closed.

Referring now to another feature of the invention, it is shown that the slightly inclined surface 74 on the end portion 56 of the spring 58, in combination with the beveled surfaces 76 on the extension 54, permits the extension to ride easily over the end 56 of the leaf spring 58. However, once returned to the closed position, the end caps remain therein till again released by movement of the button 40 and the yoke 60. In this connection, it will be seen that the surface 74 is intentionally less steeply angled than the surface immediately adjacent the end 56 of the spring 56; therefore the end caps close more readily and with less strain on the spring 58 than if the surface 74 were more steeply inclined.

Although no element of the razor unit of the invention is required to be formed from any particular material, it is preferred that the end cap assemblies 28 be made from a moldable, high impact resistant plastic material, that the buttons be formed from similar material and that the yoke unit be formed from steel, while the springs are preferably formed from steel also.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel end cap closing and release mechanism having a number of advantages and characteristics, including those expressely pointed out herein and others which are inherent in the invention. An illustrative embodiment of the invention only having been shown, it is contemplated that modifications to the form of unit shown may occur to those skilled in the art and it is contemplated that such changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, an electric razor having a body portion and a cutting head portion having a pair of oppositely disposed ends, an end cap for each end of said cutting head, means mounting said end cap for pivotal movement relative to said body, said mounting means lying below said cutting head, first spring means having at least a portion thereof engaging said inner surface of said cap and urging it to an open position, a lower extension portion formed on said cap and extending at least to a point beneath the pivot axis of said end cap, second spring means being adapted to releasably engage said extension and being normally positioned so as to prevent inward movement. of said extension, and a control system including a manually operable button and an actuating linkage having portions affixed to said button and portions lying adjacent said second springmeans, said control system being movable so as to move said second spring means away from its position of engagement with the lower extension of said end cap, whereby operating said actuator releases said end caps for spontaneous movement to an open position thereof.

2. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head, each of said end caps being pivoted about a generally horizontal axis; first spring'means engaging the interior of each of said end caps above their pivot axis for urging each of said end caps toward an open position; second spring means engaging a portion of said end caps below their pivot axis to lock each of said end caps against movement toward said open position; and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move said second spring means retaining each of said caps in the closed position away from said locking position to permit simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means.

3. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head, each of said end caps including a lower extension portion having a beveled side portion; first spring means engaging a portion of each of said end caps and urging each of said end caps toward an open position; second spring means locking each of said end caps against movement toward said open position, said second spring means comprising a leaf spring having a pair of angular surfaces, one of said surfaces being adapted to engage said beveled portion of said extension to prevent release of said end cap, and the other being adapted to be engaged by said extension when said extension is moved in'the opposite direction for closing said end cap, said other angular surface presenting a less steep angleto said beveled por-- tion than said first surface whereby said end cap is more easily closed than opened; and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move said second spring means retaining each of said caps in the closed position away'from said locking position to permit simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first springmeans.

4. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end opening of said end caps under theforce of said first spring means, said controlunit including a yoke member extending to a position adjacent both ends of said razor, said yoke having flange portions terminating in a closely spaced apart relation to said second spring means, whereby movement of said yoke causes engagement between said flange and a portion of said second spring means to release said cap from said locked position.

5. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head; first spring means engaging a portion of each of said end caps for urging each of said end caps towards an open position, said first spring means including at least onespring unit having a coil center and a pair of legs urged angularly apart with one of said legs received in a portion of said shaver unit and the other of said legs received within said end caps; a second spring means locking each of said end caps against movement toward said open position; and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move said second spring means locking each of said caps in the closed position away from said locking position to permit simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means.

6. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least I one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head; first spring means engaging a portion of each of saidend caps for urging each of said end caps toward an open position; second spring means having a locking position wherein each of said end caps is secured against movement toward said open position; and means separate from said end caps comprising a user-actuable control member for moving said second spring means from said locking position to cause simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means.

7. A dry shaver unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said second spring means comprise a leaf spring and wherein said end cap includes a portion thereof extending into engagement with at least a portion of said leaf spring in said locking position. 

1. In combination, an electric razor having a body portion and a cutting head portion having a pair of oppositely disposed ends, an end cap for each end of said cutting head, means mounting said end cap for pivotal movement relative to said body, said mounting means lying below said cutting head, first spring means having at least a portion thereof engaging said inner surface of said cap and urging it to an open position, a lower extension portion formed on said cap and extending at least to a point beneath the pivot axis of said end cap, second spring means being adapted to releasably engage said extension and being normally positioned so as to prevent inward movement of said extension, and a control system including a manually operable button and an actuating linkage having portions affixed to said button and portions lying adjacent said second springmeans, said control system being movable so as to move said second spring means away from its position of engagement with the lower extension of said end cap, whereby operating said actuator releases said end caps for spontaneous movement to an open position thereof.
 2. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head, each of said end caps being pivoted about a generally horizontal axis; first spring means engaging the interior of each of said end caps above their pivot axis for urging each of said end caps toward an open position; second spring means engaging a portion of said end caps below their pivot axis to lock each of said end caps against movement toward said open position; and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move said second spring means retaining each of said caps in the closed position away from said locking position to permit simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means.
 3. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head, each of said end caps including a lower extension portion having a beveled side portion; first spring means engaging a portion of each of said end caps and urging each of said end caps toward an open position; second spring means locking each of said end caps against movement toward said open position, said second spring means comprising a leaf spring having a pair of angular surfaces, one of said surfaces being adapted to engage said beveled portion of said extension to prevent release of said end cap, and the other being adApted to be engaged by said extension when said extension is moved in the opposite direction for closing said end cap, said other angular surface presenting a less steep angle to said beveled portion than said first surface whereby said end cap is more easily closed than opened; and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move said second spring means retaining each of said caps in the closed position away from said locking position to permit simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means.
 4. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions, a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of the cutting head, first spring means engaging a portion of each of said end caps for urging each of said end caps toward an open position, second spring means locking each of said end caps against movement toward said open position, and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move said second spring means retaining each of said caps in the closed position away from said locking position to permit simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means, said control unit including a yoke member extending to a position adjacent both ends of said razor, said yoke having flange portions terminating in a closely spaced apart relation to said second spring means, whereby movement of said yoke causes engagement between said flange and a portion of said second spring means to release said cap from said locked position.
 5. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head; first spring means engaging a portion of each of said end caps for urging each of said end caps towards an open position, said first spring means including at least one spring unit having a coil center and a pair of legs urged angularly apart with one of said legs received in a portion of said shaver unit and the other of said legs received within said end caps; a second spring means locking each of said end caps against movement toward said open position; and a control unit adapted to be actuated so as to move said second spring means locking each of said caps in the closed position away from said locking position to permit simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means.
 6. In combination, a dry shaver unit having at least one cutting head with a pair of oppositely disposed end portions; a pair of end caps adapted to cover the end portions of said cutting head; first spring means engaging a portion of each of said end caps for urging each of said end caps toward an open position; second spring means having a locking position wherein each of said end caps is secured against movement toward said open position; and means separate from said end caps comprising a user-actuable control member for moving said second spring means from said locking position to cause simultaneous opening of said end caps under the force of said first spring means.
 7. A dry shaver unit as defined in claim 6 wherein said second spring means comprise a leaf spring and wherein said end cap includes a portion thereof extending into engagement with at least a portion of said leaf spring in said locking position. 